Motor fuel composition



United States Patent 3,115,400 MUTGR FUEL CGWGSETIUN Byron E. Marsh, Brooktieid, and Donald .ll. Tucelr, Cicero, ll assignors, by inesne assignments, to Armour and Company, @hieago, iii, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Aug. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,334 6 Claims. (fill. 44--72) This invention relates to improved motor fuel compositions and particularly to motor fuel compositions used in carbureted internal combustion engines.

It is well-known that automobiles often stall during cool, humid weather before the engine has warmed up. This condition is caused by ice accumulation in the carburetor and, specifically, it is caused by the formation of ice on the throttle plate and on the wall surrounding the throttle plate. The icing condition ordinarily will occur when the relative humidity is above about 50%, when the outside air temperature is between about 25 F. and about 60 F, and when the engine is still cold and operating at a reduced load and speed.

The vaporization of the gasoline in the carburetor causes a refrigerating effect whereby the temperature of the throttle plate and the walls surrounding the throttle plate is reduced to a temperature substantially below that of the incoming air. As the relatively moist air passes over the cooled throttle plate and wall area, moisture will condense, and when the freezing point is reached, ice will form on the throttle plate and on the surrounding walls. Since the engine is operating at a reduced load and speed, the throttle will be only slightly open. Because the throttle is only slightly open, ice accumulation will disturb the air fuel ratio so as to cause engine bucking. Ultimately the engine will stall when ice completely closes of the flow of air.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fuel composition which is designed to reduce or eliminate carburetor icing. It is a further object to provide an improved gasoline fuel composition which contains a minor amount of a deicing additive. Further objects and purposes of this invention will become obvious as the specification proceeds.

To accomplish the objects as set out above, an improved motor fuel composition has now been discovered which comprises a motor fuel and a minor amount of an amine which may be illustrated by the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms or a radical having the general formula, [(CH O] H, wherein X is an integer from 2 to 4, wherein Y is an integer of at least one, and wherein Z is an integer of at least one.

Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals coming within the meaning of R and R are hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, tetradecenyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, hexadccenyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl, octadecatrienyl, nonadecyl, eicosyl, heneicosyl and docosyl. It is preferred that the number of carbon atoms in the aliphatic hydrocarbon radical coming within the meaning of R and R be from about 12 to about 18.

Mixtures of these tertiary amines may readily be utilized in our invention. The aliphatic hydrocarbon radical may be derived from certain naturally occurring fats and oils, such as soybean oil, coconut oil, tallow, and the like. Tallow ordinarily comprises a mixture of the following aliphatic radicals: dodecyl, tetradecyl, tetradecenyl, hexadecyl, hexadecenyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl and eicosyl. Coconut oil or cocoa ordinarily comprise the mixture of hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, and octadecadienyl radicals. Soybean oil or soya ordinarily comprises the mixture of hexadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl, and octadecatrienyl radicals.

When the letter X is the integer 2, ethylene oxide is being utilized. When the letter X is the integer 3, propylene oxide is being utilized. When the letter X is the integer 4, butylene oxide is being utilized.

The number of moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide represented by the letter Y is at least one. Likewise, the number of moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide represented by the letter Z is at least one. When R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, the number of moles of ethylene oxide, propylene or butylene oxide represented by the letter Y will ordinarily not exceed about 25, and usually it will not exceed about 15. When R is the radical the total number of moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide represented by the letters Y and Z will always be 2 or more. Ordinarily, the total of Y and Z will not exceed 50. It is preferred that the total number of moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or butylene oxide not exceed 15 For a given compound, the number of moles represented by the letter Y may be greater than, equal to, or less than the number of moles represented by the letter Z. When mixtures of tertiary amines are used, the total number of moles of ethylene oxide, or propylene oxide or butylene oxide may vary from compound to compound.

Minor amounts of this compound may be added to the fuel in order to accomplish the objects as previously set out. It should be mentioned that for best results, it is preferred that compounds which are soluble in the motor fuel be utilized. Generally, good results are obtained when the concentration of our compound is from about 5 p.p.m. to about 10,000 p.p.m. Ordinarily, concentrations will vary from about 20 p.p.m. to about 200 p.p.m. It is desired that sufiicient additive to be used so that good results will be obtained, while at the same time, using a relatively minor amount so as to keep the cost at a minimum.

Our compound may be added to any motor fuel. Usually, the compound is added to a motor fuel which is a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range. Since conditions required for carburetor icing ordinarily do not occur unless a winter grade gasoline is being used, our compound will usually be added only to winter grade gasolines. It should be noted that winter grade gasolines actually contribute to carburetor icing because the higher volatility has a greater refrigerating effect. A typical winter grade gasoline ordinarily does not have an ASTM 50% distillation value in excess of about 250 F. However, generally the 50% ASTM distillation value will be below this.

In order to illustrate the improved results, which are obtained when using our gasoline composition, we conducted tests which are described as follows:

Air temperatures were maintained at about 40 F. Tests were run at relative humidities of and to The gasoline employed was a typical volatile winter grade gasoline having an ASTM distillation range of 10% at 108 F., 50% at 186 F., and 90% at 292 F. The engine used was a 1957 Buick engine having a factory radiator, manifold, carburetor and an automatic choke. The air cleaner, radiator fan, thermostat and fast idle linkage were removed or disconnected for purposes of reproducibility. After the engine was started, it was accelerated to 1500 rpm. (no load) and maintained at this speed for one minute. Then the speed was reduced to idle and allowed thirty seconds idle time. This procedure constitutes one cycle. If the engine did not stall, during the thirty second idle time, the cycle was repeated. During the thirty second idle time, any engine bucking Was noted. If the engine stalled during the idle time, it was restarted and the steps of starting, accelerating to 1500 r.p.m., maintaining at this speed for one minute, and then reducing to idle for thirty seconds were repeated. The cycle was repeated until the throttle plate temperature rose above 32 F. or until there were three complete cycles without any stalling or bucking with a minimum of 10 cycles constituting tests. The compound added to the gasoline in this test was Ethorneen S-15 (a tertiary amine having one fatty alkyl group de rived from soybean and a total of moles of ethylene oxide attached to the nitrogen). Concentrations tested were 50 p.p.m. and 100 ppm. at 75% relative humidity, 50 ppm. and 150 ppm. at 90% to 95% relative humidity. Following are the results which were obtained:

TABLE 1 Total Stalls and Bucks Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 95% P.p.m 50 100 150 50 Ethomeen S15 6 6 13 Base Fuel 12 to 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 TABLE 2 Total Stalls Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 95% P.p.m 100 150 50 Ethomeen 5-15--.. 9 4 12 Base Fuel 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 TABLE 3 Percent Reduction in Stalls and Bucks Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 95% P.p.m 50 100 150 50 Ethomeen 8-15, percent 56 33 57 12 TABLE 4 Percent Reduction in Stalls Relative Humidity; 75% 90% to 95% P.p.m 50 100 150 50 Ethomeen S-15, percent 58 31 67 8 Now that the invention has been described, what we claim is:

1. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range and about 5 to 10,000 ppm. of an amine having the general formula,

[(CH2)XO]YH wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, R is a radical selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms and a radical having the general formula [(CH O] H, X is an integer from 2 to 4, Y is an integer being at least one, and Z is an integer being at 4 least one, provided the total of Y and Z does not exceed about 50.

2. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling 5 range and about 5 to 10,000 ppm. of an amine having the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, X is an integer from 2 to 4, and Y is an integer from about 1 to about 15.

3. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range and about 5 to 10,000 p.p.m. of an amine having the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, X is an integer from 2 to 4, Y is an integer being at least one, Z is an integer being at least one, provided the total of Y a d Z does not exceed about 15.

4. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of a Winter grade gasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 ppm. of a soluble tertiary amine having the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms, and X is an integer from 1 to about 15.

5. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of a Winter grade gasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 p.p.m. of a soluble tertiary amine having the general formula,

wherein R is a fatty alkyl group derived from soybean, X is an integer being at least 1, Y is an integer being at least 1, and the total of X and Y is 5.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Duncan et al. Apr. 19, 1955 Donlan Feb. 3, 1959 Giammaria Sept. 1, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Armour Etho-Chemicals, Armour Chemical Division, copyright 1955, by Amour and Co., pp. 26.

Petroleum Refining With Chemicals, by Kalichevsky et al., 1956, Elsevier Pub. Co, page 480. 

1. AN IMPROVED MOTOR FUEL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A MIXTURE OF HYDROCARBONS BOILING IN THE GASOLINE BOILING RANGE AND ABOUT 5 TO 10,000P.P.M. OF AN AMINE HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA. 